Dan, FYI I do occasionally run into the "Video Dimensions Changed" bug when using VideoRedo for editing videos originating from my S3 Tivos. Admittedly I haven't reported the problem since I just use Womble instead for editing those files and it has worked every time thus far. If you need another testcase I can probably get one to you.

Unlike twhiting9275 however I still very much appreciate the VideoRedo and especially the Quick Stream Fix utility above anything else.

I have processed ~600 DVDs that I own thru VRD and have not had any problems with the resultant files on my S3.

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The "video dimensions changed" issue doesn't affect content that comes from DVD, since DVD material has a constant resolution. Where you will see the problem is in HD content that is recorded by a Tivo S3/HD. Sometimes commercials, EAS warnings, etc. are inserted into the stream at at a different resolution than the main program, for example they may be SD while the main program is HD. This change of resolution is what trips up VRD. If I recall correctly, the QSF filter workaround simply allows you to choose the resolution of the material that you want to keep, and filters out everything else. In my (limited) experience, the workaround is effective.

Sorry for continuing this somewhat off topic discussion, I just wanted to clarify the issue that has been brought up.

Twhiting9275, Maybe the rest of this thread could be taken up through PM's with Dan rather than blasting a product which is clearly well liked and supported on this forum

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Been there, done that. Emails ignored, PM's ignored. If it was possible to get support for this product 'privately', I wouldn't have to criticize it so harshly publicly.

I started out thinking the same thing as everyone else, that VRD was great, sans for a few issues. Then, I got a real Tivo and saw more and more of these issues. It's to the point now where I just can't do a damn thing with VRD, and the devs are absolutely no help, what with taking years to fix their product.

I understand this doesn't affect everyone, and for many, the QSF fix is the answer, but that doesn't exclude the fact that

A> The QSF fix takes more time, adding 2 processing rounds into what is supposed to be a quick fix.
B> The QSF fix does NOT always work.
C> This shouldn't be here 1-2 years from initial report (going on just current reports), but it is. There is no excuse for this pathetically slow development.

While this seems to be a provider issue, that, again, doesn't justify ignoring the problem for 1-2 years just because you don't feel like addressing it.

Actually we haven't ignored our product for over a year. For the last year and a half we've been hard at work on a new version of VideoReDo that supports editing of H.264 video (no small feat) and an all new transcoding engine that allows output to portable media players like iPods, PSPs, etc... We're in the final stages of testing on that right now. We've also released 15 new beta versions of TVSuite in that time frame. While none of them fixed the problem you're ranting about, all of them have fixed outstanding bugs elsewhere in the product.

Seriously do you have any idea how much time and effort it takes to make a product like VideoReDo? If it were easy there'd be a dozen other products just like it on the market. But there arn't because it's not easy. We do it because we're passionate about the product and what it does.

I'm sorry that this problem effects you so much. But honestly, insulting me and my work ethic on every forum post you can find is not going to get it fixed any faster.

That's all I have to say on the subject, so rant on if you wish but that's the last you're going to hear from me on this until it's actually fixed.

Right... Last stable update? Well, don't take my word for it, here you go, over a year ago, just look @ the image.

You've publicly ignored your product for over a year, you've ignored repeated complaints about this issue and done nothing to fix them.

Instead of focusing on adding new features, you need to focus on fixing existing bugs. This should be top priority, instead of brushed under the carpet, worked on whenever you feel like it, trying to milk more money out of your subscribers.

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twhiting9275, I think your accusations and insults toward VRD and your hijacking of this thread are inappropriate. I suggest you cool it before you get yourself banned. Since you are so unhappy with VRD, perhaps you should try nicely asking for a refund. Enough said in this thread!

twhiting9275, I think your accusations and insults toward VRD and your hijacking of this thread are inappropriate. I suggest you cool it before you get yourself banned. Since you are so unhappy with VRD, perhaps you should try nicely asking for a refund. Enough said in this thread!

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Just because you don't agree with something doesn't make it inappropriate. Stating the truth is always appropriate.

As far as hijacking, this thread did recommend VRD, no? Yes, it did. So, posting a truthful, honest experience with the company is not hijacking the thread. Just because it's not the party line, and doesn't favor VRD doesn't make it hijacking.

As far as the refund? Again, ignored, just like my requests for support. All ignored, no responses. Trying to get their attention "privately" does not work.

Are free upgrades included in the purchase of the product? Or do I have to pay a fee when they come out with patches or upgrades???

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Dan203 could give you a more authoritative answer on this although he may have blocked this thread by now (so you would have to start a new thread with this question for him to see it).

You get free updates (e.g. bug fixes and minor improvements). Upgrades depends on your definition. VRD Plus is $50. VRD TVSuite is $75 and it will author and burn DVD's. There was no free "upgrade" from Plus to TVS but that should not have been expected -- a major new capability was added. I think a special offer (i.e., less than the $25 price difference) was made to VRD Plus owners to upgrade to TVS when it first came out.

When the mpeg4-capable version comes out I would not expect a free upgrade to that either.

Are free upgrades included in the purchase of the product? Or do I have to pay a fee when they come out with patches or upgrades???

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IIRC I've received free upgrades for at least a year...possibly longer. Every now and then there's a "newer version" pop-up asking if I want it. I don't remember ever paying for a newer version now that I think of it. If it doesn't say anything on the VRD web site you might want to do a search on the VRD Forum and if you still can't get an answer post there or drop Dan a PM to be sure or ask on their forum.

Instead of focusing on adding new features, you need to focus on fixing existing bugs. This should be top priority, instead of brushed under the carpet, worked on whenever you feel like it, trying to milk more money out of your subscribers.

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I'm often frustrated by software bugs. I rant and rant about how TiVo should be fixing their bugs. However, all software has bugs. It's not possible to eliminate all bugs from a complex product. It's unreasonable to expect a company to only fix bugs to the exclusion of all other activity. Once a product is "good enough", it's also unreasonable to expect bug fixing to be the top priority. A company can't survive long term unless they also continue to develop new products.

In your case, it seems like the developers decided that your bug was rare enough that they wouldn't prioritize the fix. Too bad for you, but it's only a $50 or $75 product. I've seen bugs unfixed for years in $100,000 products. C'est la vie.

You get free updates (e.g. bug fixes and minor improvements). Upgrades depends on your definition. VRD Plus is $50. VRD TVSuite is $75 and it will author and burn DVD's. There was no free "upgrade" from Plus to TVS but that should not have been expected -- a major new capability was added. I think a special offer (i.e., less than the $25 price difference) was made to VRD Plus owners to upgrade to TVS when it first came out.

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I think you got it right. I even expect the new H.264 version will require a fee to upgrade to that.

ETA: And +1 to Phantom Gremlin's post.

ETA #2: I just remembered a while back, I edited a program that switched from HD to SD (weather alert crawl), and then back to HD and VRD didn't choke on that. Why not? Wouldn't that involve a "video dimension change"?

In your case, it seems like the developers decided that your bug was rare enough that they wouldn't prioritize the fix. Too bad for you, but it's only a $50 or $75 product.

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I don't care if it's "only" a $50 or $75 product, if they don't do their jobs, they don't get paid.

Can you go into work, work a half day, decide you've done enough, walk out and bill the company for a full day? Nope. Yet, that's what these guys have done. They were paid for a product, a functioning product, no? I've been patient, incredibly so . I originally purchased in January, on the assumption tha they were working on this "fix". I , then waited until July to get told the same old, same old lie (We're working on it, we're working on it, blah blah blah), and here it is September, television season is starting, and these individuals have put in 1/2 day's worth of work, but demand full pay.

I understand this doesn't affect everyone (yet). If it doesn't affect you yet, be grateful, because this is a huge, huge mess, and a huge waste of time and money any more.

I sympathize with your problem. If you have cooperated with VRD, e.g., by ftp'ing a video sample demonstrating your problem, and they have not solved it in a reasonable time, you should request a refund (but not just in a forum post).

Beyond that I can't see what you expect to accomplish by spreading rant posts on this forum and on the VRD forum. Have you received a response that makes you feel you are getting somewhere for all this effort? (You could have had the Womble suggestion without all this.)

Another happy customer. It would be easier not having to use QSF but it's really not the end of the world.

They offer a free trial. Don't buy the program if it doesn't meet your needs.

twhiting9275--It might help others if you tell us what cable system you're using, what model tivo and what channels. HD or SD? Broadcast, extended cable or premium cable? That might help others decide if they're in the same category as you (program doesn't work) or in the same category as the vast majority of us (program works great).

In an effort to determine what was causing the QSF problems, I completely wiped and reinstalled w7. Once done, the QSF issues went away, so, at least that's back. It's still an ugly solution, and an ugly workaround, though.

Right now, I'm not seeing this on standard cable. ABC/Fox/CBS/NBC/CW all work without a hitch. Even WGN works fine. When you get up there in channels though, the odds of this problem get higher and higher. FX is a 100&#37; chance. Syfy, probably 50-75% chance. TNT/TBS? It's over 50%. A&E? Same thing.

The question regarding free vs paid upgrades was answered the the forum via a link to the section of their website that explains their upgrade policy

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Yeah, now look at the original question date, and the answer date. It took 2 years to get that simple (non) answer from them.

I don't understand your first paragraph. Are you saying you reinstalled windows 7 and QSF now works? Windows 7 is still beta, I certainly hope I'm misinterpreting your post. It sounds like the problem was with your computer.

The upgrade policy is easy to find in their website. I assume the person who first posted the question found the answer, or was given the answer via an email.

In an effort to determine what was causing the QSF problems, I completely wiped and reinstalled w7. Once done, the QSF issues went away, so, at least that's back. It's still an ugly solution, and an ugly workaround, though.

Right now, I'm not seeing this on standard cable. ABC/Fox/CBS/NBC/CW all work without a hitch. Even WGN works fine. When you get up there in channels though, the odds of this problem get higher and higher. FX is a 100% chance. Syfy, probably 50-75% chance. TNT/TBS? It's over 50%. A&E? Same thing.

Yeah, now look at the original question date, and the answer date. It took 2 years to get that simple (non) answer from them.

I'm looking for software that changes .tivo files into mpeg because I want to then burn [using Nero] some DVD's of my kids' favorite shows from our TIVO to take with us on a road trip.

. . .NOT to read flaming rant after rant by twhiting9275. The OP didn't ask what your personal beef with a certain software was, he wanted some recommendations on software to use. And so far, you haven't even recommended a single one. Please stfu and let the rest of us get back to the topic of this thread.

So far I've seen VideoReDo, Kmttg, and Tivodecode mentioned in this thread. Have I missed any? I have also read about DirectShow Dump and TVHarmony Autopilot from various google searches but not sure if those are outdated programs. Are there any others?